Ways To Involve Your Children In Your Pregnancy
29 Apr 2016
- 9 comments
Finding out you are pregnant is a wonderful thing. Something you will always look back at. For the first time it is really special and scary going through the pregnancy alone. When you are pregnant for the second, third or even fourth {or more} time then you have other little people to think about too. It can be pretty scary expecting another baby when you already have children because you don't know how your other children are going to react. The last thing you want is for them to feel left out. There are many ways you can involve your children in your pregnancy and by involving them, it can help them understand a bit more about the new arrival and also bond with their unborn baby brother or sister.
Tell Them First : When you feel it's the right time to announce your pregnancy to friends and family, sit down and talk to your children first. Tell them first that they are going to be a big brother or sister. At first they may be upset, angry, mixed emotions or even very happy - all of those behaviours are normal.
Bring Them To Scans : If your hospital allows you to bring children into ultrasound scan rooms, then bring them! The child will be able to bond this way. They will be able to see their little sibling on the screen moving around and maybe even find out if they are having a little brother or sister. If your hospital doesn't allow children in the room, you could book a private scan that do.
Take Them Baby Shopping : You don't have to take them to every single baby shop that you do as all parents know taking children shopping is hard work. But you could make a day of taking the children shopping and letting them pick and choose what they want for their new sibling. This can get them very excited.
Pictures : You could ask them to draw pictures of what they think baby will look like or even a picture a baby in your tummy. You could keep these pictures in a memory box too look back at too.
Talk About Baby : There is 9 months to wait and that is a long time for a child. Talk about baby often, even if it is daily or weekly! Involve your children in baby conversations. Start conversations to get them excited and feel involved.
Take Them To Appointments : Don't be afraid to take your children to your midwife appointments. At your midwife appointments the midwife usually listens to baby's heartbeat and if you have a nice midwife, maybe they will let your child help by holding the monitor to listen to the heartbeat.
How did you get your children involved in your pregnancy?
Hi! I'm Beth, a 20-something year old mum of two and pregnant with Baby#3. I am a UK Pregnancy, Parenting & Lifestyle Blogger.
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My daughter was involved in many of my bump photos and we also compare our baby to fruit and veg and had tasting sessions. :) xx
ReplyDeleteAww, I love this post. I think including your children in your pregnancy is SO important. I know my boys loved seeing there sister on the scan :) And including them in bump picture is a great way to get them involved. xx
ReplyDeleteI think you are doing great, getting the older child involved is important so they don't feel they aren't important anymore.
ReplyDeleteThese are some really great tips. Looking back I wish I had involved my eldest more in my subsequent two pregnancies, but he really didn't seem that bothered, lol!
ReplyDeleteLovely tips - it was so beautiful when I was pregnant with Pickle - my others were 9, 12 and 15 and came into my first scan. It was wonderful to have them so involved. They loved it too Kaz x
ReplyDeleteThis is such a lovely post, I dont have children so havent been lucky enough to share this joy x
ReplyDeleteI think it is important to involve your kids because it already creates a sibling bond. Plus it will make proud to be a brother or sister.
ReplyDeleteThis is a great post, I remember my Mum doing things like this with me when she was pregnant as there is a ten year age gap between me and my sister!
ReplyDeleteI think it's so important to get children involved - I can see it helping to reduce some jealously and help the child prepare for the big change!
ReplyDelete